Closure for containers



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R. G. WHATLOCK ET AL. 2,@6254 CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l l if Dec- L 936- R. G. WHWLOCK ET A1. 29(9)@954 CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 2, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1, 1936o R e. www-LOCK ET An. 2,@62954 CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 2, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 LQ@ 97 l Dec9 l, 1936. R. G. WHITLOCK ET AL CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WA/Am@ Patented Dec. 1, 1.936

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE Sharp, Huntington Park, Calif., assignors to Federal Foundation Inc., Las Vegas, Nev., a

corporation of Nevada Application June Z, 1934, Serial No. '728,766

8 Claims.

Our invention relates to closures for containers and more particularly to an index closure for the inlet openings of oil and gasoline storage tanks such as used by automobile service stations.

Automobile motor oil is usually supplied to motorists from containers commonly known as high boys, the latter having manually operable pumps mounted thereon. The inlet openings of these containers are readily accessible thus permitting a dishonest service station owner or operator to' ll these containers with low quality oil, the latter being sold as a high quality product at a high price. In an attempt to overcome this surreptitious practice, most of the major oil companies have been forced to seal and distribute their oil in small cans which adds considerable expense to the distribution of oil and does not oiier a solution to the problem of preventing bootleggers from distributing low quality oil in cans bearing counterfeit labels of the major oil companies products.

It is an object of our invention to provide a closure for such oil containers that will prevent access thereto Withoutleaving evidence of said access.

Another object of our invention is to provide a closure which is effectively locked to an oil container to prevent bodily removal of said closure without leaving evidence thereof.

A further object of our invention is to provide a closure which must be completely closed after each opening thereof in order to complete the record of access to said container.

Another object of our invention is to provide a closure for an oil container that can be quickly opened and closed without the necessity of unlocking and locking the cover.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a closure that is extremely simple in construction and operation.

Further objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an oil storage tank shown in connection with a preferred embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a plurality of juxtaposed oil containers showing the manner in which they are locked one to another.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a preferred embodiment of our invention looking in the direction of the arrow 4 of Fig. 1.

(Cl. 22h-67)' Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, detailed perspective view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged Vertical sectional view taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is avertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 8 showing the operation of the parts disclosed therein.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view looking in the direction of the arrow lf3 of Fig. 7.

Fig. l1 is a vertical sectional View taken on line II-iI of Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. l1 showing the operation of the parts disclosed therein.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line lil-I3 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken on the line I-M of Fig. 8.

Referring speciiically to the drawings, an oil tank lll, shown in connection with the preferred embodiment of our invention, is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, this tank being of conventional design With the few exceptions to be noted hereinafter. The tank I is formed to provide an inlet mouth II, the latter having an upturned annular flange I2 formed therearound. Mounted within the tank I on the underside of the top I3 thereof is an auxiliary tank lll having an opening I provided therethrough as shown in Fig. l. Extending from the underside of the auxiliary tank I4 to the iront wall of the storage tank I0 is a drain pipe il', the latter being provided with a valve I8 and plugged at its mouth by a plug i3, as shown in Fig. 3. The valve I8 is controlled from the top side of the tank Ill through a suitable tube 2i?. Mounted on the top I3 of the tank l0 is a conventional type of lift pump 22, having a discharge pipe 23 and an intake pipe 2li, the latter extending to the bottom of the tank Ill through the aforementioned opening l5. Mountedron one side of the pump 22 is a crank 25 for manually actuating the piston (not shown) of the pump 22. Swingably mounted on a base portion of the pump 22 is a drip pipe 2S, the upper end of the latter normally communicating with the discharge end of the pipe 23 so as to deliver drippings from the pipe 23 to the auxiliary tank I4.

Mounted on the top I3 of the tank lll over the inlet mouth II is a meter closure 33 comprising a. preferred embodiment of our invention, the closure 30 including a base 3|, a housing 32, and a cover 33.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 7 the base 3| is formed to provide a concave upper portion 35 and a horizontally extending hasp 36, the latter having a slot 31 provided therethrough. Extending vertically through the base 3|, as shown in Fig. 7, is a pair of holes 38 the purpose of which will be made clear hereinafter.

The housing 32 is cast of metal to provide a cylindrical body 40, having an annular flange 4| provided on one end thereof, as shown in Fig. 7. The upper wall of the cylindrical body 40 is formed to provide a rectangular opening 42. As shown in Figs. 11 and 13, the inside of the housing 32 is formed to provide a horizontal, cylindrical cavity 44, a token magazine 45, and a cavity 46, the latter being disposed above the cavity 44 and the token magazine 45, as shown in Fig. 11. The body 40 is secured to the top I3 of the tank I0 by means of a pair of cap screws 48, the latter extending upward through the top I3 and the holes 38 of the base 3| and into the body 40, as shown in Fig. 7.

Slidably mounted in a hole 49 provided at one end of the body 40, as shown in Figs. '7 and 14, is a latch pin 49a having a chamfered face 49h and a pin 49o, the latter engaging a suitable slot as shown to prevent rotation of the latch pin 49a. Provided in the hole 49 in back of the latch pin 49a is a compression spring 49d to urge the latch pin to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 14, also mounted in the body 40, as shown in Fig. 13, is a spring pressed ball 59, the purpose of which will be made clear hereinafter.

Fixed on one end of the cylindrical body 40 is a plate 5|, the latter being aligned by means of a stud 52 received by a suitable aperture in the end of the body 40. The plate 5| is formed to provide an opening 53 at one side thereof as shown in Fig. 10, a receptacle 54 being formed on the plate 5| below the opening 53 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The plate 5| is secured in position on the end of the body 40 by a screw 55, a portion of the head being broken off to prevent removal of the screw 54.

Provided in the end of the body 40 adjacent the plate 5| is a non-reverse mechanism 56 to be described hereinafter. Fixed to the end of the body 40 opposite the plate 5| is a somewhat similar plate 51 xed to the body 40 by means of a screw 58, the latter being broken off after installation in a manner similar to that described in relation to the screw 55. The plate 51 is aligned in relation to the body 40 by means of a stud 59 received by a suitable aperture provided in the body 40, as shown in Fig. 7. Formed through the plate 51 is an opening 60, positioned in axial alignment with the aforementioned magazine 45, as shown in Fig. 13. Extending through the opening 60 of the plate 51 and into one end of the magazine 45 is a lock plug 62 having a bolt 63 extending into a suitable aperture 64 in the body 40, as shown in Fig. 13. The bolt 63 is extended and retracted by means of suitable combination lock mechanism (not shown) within the plug 62, the lock mechanism having a shaft 65 upon which a dial 66 is removably mounted. Provided on one side of the plug 6E is a pin 81 which is received by a suitable keyway in the dial 66 for the purpose of locating the plug 62 in proper circumferential relation with the magazine 45. Slidable Within the magazine 45 is cup 10 having a button 1| provided centrally thereof, a compression spring 12 being interposed between the lock plug 62 and the cup 10. Provided in the magazine 45 is a plurality of tokens 13, each of these bearing suitable indicia to distinguish it from the others.

The cover 33 is cast of one piece of metal to provide a plate normally positioned concentrically over the mouth of the tank I0, as shown in Fig. 5. Formed integral with the plate 80 and extending downward into the mouth I! is an annular flange 8| the purpose of which will be made clear hereinafter. Provided on the upper side of the plate 80 is an annular rim 82 having a lip 83 formed on one side thereof. Extending horizontally from one side of the plate 80 is a hasp 84 having a slot 85 for receiving an apertured lug 86 provided on the upper side of the top I3 of the tank I0. The plate 80 is swingably mounted to the housing 32 by means of a pair of bands 88 and 89, the latter being formed integral With the plate 80 and embracing the housing 32, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Formed on the inside of a portion of the band 89 is a plurality of notches 90, as shown in Fig. 8.

The aforementioned non-reverse mechanism 56 includes a pair of pawls 95 and 96, the lower ends of these being fixed to pins 91 which are rotatably mounted in the body 49 as shown in Fig. 8. Fixed on the upper sides of the pawls 95 and 96 are spring lingers 98, similar spring fingers 99 being xed to the underside of the pawls 95 and 96, the fingers 99 being longer than the ngers 98 and provided with lugs |00 at the upper extremities thereof. Pivotally mounted on a cylindrical boss |03 of the body 40 is an oscillating collar |04, the latter being shown in detail in Fig. 6. The collar |94 is formed to provide shoulders |05 and |08 and an upstanding ridge |01 having a groove |08 formed therein. Extending outward from the collar I 04 in central alignment with the ridge |01 is a pin |09. Rotatably mounted on the aforementioned stud 52 of the plate 5| is a control plate or shutter III, having an opening IIZ formed therethrough as shown in Fig. 8, the opening ||2 being normally disposed in registration with the aforementioned opening 53 of the plate 5|, The periphery of the plate III is formed to provide a pair of shoulders II4 and |I5 and an arcuate slot IIS. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the plate III is pinned to the band 89 by pins II8. It will be noticed especially in Figure 5 that an anchoring member C is provided, which provides means for journaling the pin |09 of the collar |04. This anchoring member C is formed with oppositely arranged inclined or bevelled sides, A and B, respectively. The part of the anchoring member which has the collar |04 mounted thereupon is formed cylindrically as in D, and the collar is rotatedly mounted upon this part D so that this collar may be rocked in either of opposite directions, to the right or to the left; in either case this collar, when` shifted by means hereinafter shown, comes to rest as soon as the shoulder, |05 or |05 thereof, engages either inclined or bevelled side, A or B, of the anchoring member C.

Mounted in the cavity 48 of the body 40 is a counter |20 having a lever |2I, the latter being actuated by a plunger |22 which extends into a suitable recess |23 provided in the band 83, the counter |20 being visible through the aforementioned opening 152 of the body 4l?, as shown in Fig. 4.

Operation When it becomes necessary to replenish the supply of oil in the tank Il), the operator raises the cover 33 from the position shown in Fig.. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9. As the cover 33 is thus raised, the control plate III fixed to the band 3S is rotated from the position shown in Fig. S to that shown in Fig. 9, the opening I l 2 of the plate I I I being brought into alignment with the magazine 45 of the body Il@ so as to receive one of the tokens I3. It will also be noted that rotation of the plate III causes the shoulder lili thereoi to contact the pin m9 of the collar i il@ so as to swing the latter to the position shown in Fig. 9 thus allowing the pawl 95 to drop out oi Contact with the notches 9i] of the band 89 and simultaneously forcing the other pawl S5 into engagement with the notches 9G. After replenishing the supply of oil in the tank lll, the cover 33 is returned to closed position, the non-reverse mechanism Eli returning to the position shown in Fig. 8. As the plate III is rotated from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig. 8, the opening Il? carries the token i3 from the stack of tokens in the magazine B5 into alignment with the opening 53 or the plate 5i, the aforementioned spring pressed ball 5u then causes the token i3 to fall through the opening 53 and into the receptacle 54. The operator after supplying the tank lli with oil, takes the discharged token and returns this with his report so as to complete the record of that particular dump. As the cover 33 is opened the plunger I22 shown in Fig. 11, is raised by the recess i123 of the band S8 to the position shown in Fig. 12, thus actuating the lever i2i causing the counter I2@ to indicate that access has been had to the tank Iii. The non-reverse mechanism 55 prevents closing the cover 33 after starting to open the same until the cover 33 is completely opened, it being clear that the pawl 95 allows the band 8s to rotate only in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8, the pawl @t remaining in inactive position during the opening of the cover 33. However, when the cover 33 is fully open, the collar IEM shifts the pawl 96 into engagement with the notches gli and allows the pawl $5 to move to inactive position so that the cover 33 may be moved in anti-clockwise direction to closed position, it being noted that the pawl 96 prevents reverse movement of the cover 33 during the closing movement thereof until the cover is fully closed. The aforementioned annular ilange 8i on the under side of the plate prevents access to the mouth Il of the tank Il) until the cove-r 33 is opened sufficiently to permit the pavvl to prevent reverse movement of the cover 33.

The aforementioned latch pin 45a mounted in the body 4D is for the purpose of preventing the insertion of a token into the discharge opening 53 of the plate 5I and opening and closing the cover 33 without discharging an additional token, it being clear that the latch pin fida prevents rotation of` the control plate III while a token remains in the opening M2 thereof.

The supply of tokens i3 is replenished from time to time by an authorized inspector who unlocks and removes the lock plug @il from the magazine 45 and inserts a fresh supply of tokens into the magazine l5 and replaces the lock plug E52, as shown in Fig. 13. As aforenoted, the dial Gt of the lock plug 82 is removable so that it may be taken away by the inspector so as to further prevent unauthorized access to the token magazine 15. It the supply of tokens Within the magazine 45 should become exhausted, the button II of the cup It enters the arcuate slot IE6 of the plate lil and locks the plate iII against rotation thus preventing opening of the cover 33 until a fresh supply of tokens is placed in the magazine 5.

As the tanks lll are often kept outside, they must be locked together to prevent them from being stolen, it being clear that each tank might be carried away individually but that a group of tanks securely locked together would be more difncult to steal. As shown in Fig. 2, a plurality of tanks ifi may be juxtaposed so that the hasps 38 of the bases 3l receive the apertured lugs 86 of adjacent tanks, the hasps Sil of the plates 80 being super-imposed on the hasps 3S and retained on the lugs 86 by means or" suitable padlocks IE5.

Oil is dispensed from the tank i@ by placing a suitable receptacle (not shown) on the plate Sil and rotating the crank 25, the drip pipe 26 being swung to one side to allow oil discharged from pipe 23 to fill the aforementioned receptacle. If the receptacle is overlled the overflow oil is received by the plate Sli and delivered by the lip 53 to a suitable opening iZ into the auxiliary tank id, it being also clear that the drippings from the pipe 23 are received by the drip pipe 26 and are also returned to the auxiliary tank I4. From time to time the tank lli is drained by removing the plug I9 from the pipe Il and opening the valve I8. The provision of the tank I4 is for the purpose of receiving overow oil and drippings so as to prevent access to the interior of the tank ill except by means of opening the cover 33 of the closure 3l). The auxiliary tank I4 also prevents dust and impurities from being washed into the tank it, thus preventing pollution of the oil contained therein.

Although we have shown and described but one preferred form of our invention, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. In a device as described, in combination with a tank having an inlet, a cover cap engaging said inlet to close the same, a fixed sleeve having a sight opening, a register visible through said opening, a pair or" collars mounted upon said sleeve rotatedly, said cover cap serving as a crank or actuating said sleeve cap, and means operated by said collars as they move for rendering said register active.

2. In a device as described, in combination with a tank having an inlet, a cover capfitted into said inlet to close the same, a xed bearing, means swingingly mounting said cover cap upon said bearing retractedly, and a visual register in said bearing operated by said cover cap as it swings.

3. In combination with a container having an inlet, a ixed cylinder thereon having a window, a register Visible through said window, mechanism inside of said cylinder for operating said register, means releasedly covering said inlet, and means swivelly engaging said cylinder as said means uncovers said inlet for actuating said mechanism.

4. In combination with a tank having an inlet, a xed cylinder thereon displaying a permanent register, means concealed in said cylinder for actuating said register, and a crank for operating said means, said crank shaped to provide a flat cap designed to releasedly cover said inlet.

5. In combination with a container having an inlet, a fixed hollow body thereon containing a displayed register counter mechanism, means rotating externally upon said hollow body for actuating the within counter mechanism, and a cap carried by said means adapted to seat in said inlet.

6. In a device as described, means controlling the closing of a tank inlet, a token carrier, means whereby said carrier is rotated, means operated with said carrier for actuating the controlling means, and a token ejector engaged by the token as the carrier is rotated to cause the token to be deposited outside said controlling means.

7. In a device as described, a tank having an inlet, a fixed cylinder containing a check maga- 20 zine, a check carrier and depositor being auto matically and successively supplied by said maga-l zine, inlet covering means movably mounted upon said cylinder and being actuated in time with said carrier and means responsive to the presence or absence of a check in said magazine for controlling said carrier.

8. In a device as described, a container having an external pocket, a cylinder secured thereto adjacent to the mouth thereof, a cover hinged to said cylinder to close or open the mouth thereof, a plurality of tokens within said cylinder, means responsive to the opening and closing movement of said cover to discharge one of the tokens from said stack into said pocket for manual removal, and means whereby said cover is automatically locked with relation to said cylinder mouth when the cylinder is without tokens.

RALPH G. WHITLOCK. LEWIS SHARP. 

